The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rasheed Yusuf

  • ‘Army needs more medical personnel’

    The Corp Commander, 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Maj.-Gen. Ikechukwu Okeke, on Tuesday in Lagos said that they needed more medical personnel for effective operational efficiency.

    Speaking at the inauguration of newly renovated Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Okeke said they needed to recruit more medical personnel in view of widespread deployment of doctors across formations and units, especially in the North East.

    “I wish to humbly appeal to the Chief of Army Staff , Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to continue the gesture of recuitement and commissioning of medical personnel to fill the gaps.

    “I also commend the efforts being made to persuade the Ministry of Defence to absorb some temporary civilian staff employed by the hospitals to ease the salary burden,” he said.

    He said that the upgrade and renovation of the hospital would no doubt increase its capacity in the discharge of its role as a tertiary health institution.

    Earlier, Maj.- Gen. Rasheed Yusuf, who represented the Chief of Army Staff  ( COAS ), said that they have increased the number of corps medical personnel for sponsorship in several institutions from six to 10 per annum.

    “I have also released funds for the improvement of facilities in the Nigerian Army College of Nursing to enable it meet accreditation requirements and be able to admit civilian students.

    “This will assist in providing the right calibre of staff to man these renovated facilities for the deployment of medical personnel in formations and units of the army,” he said.

    The COAS enjoined the staff to maintain and use the facility optimally.

    The COAS also inaugurated the remodelled students’ hostel at Nigerian Army College of Logistics, Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The COAS, during the inauguration, said that the army had employed retired personnel to train officers to enhance their professional training and operational efficiency.

    “The army places high premium on training of personnel as veritable tool for inculcating knowledge, skills and attitude to attain a battle winning force capable of meeting contemporary security challenges,” he said.

    Present at the inauguration were the 81 Division General Officer Commanding, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh and other senior military officers, both serving and retired.

    NAN

  • Army, NGO train 104 on skills acquisition, distributes N3.5m starter packs

    Army, NGO train 104 on skills acquisition, distributes N3.5m starter packs

    The Headquarters, Training And Doctrine Command ( TRADOC ), Nigerian Army, Minna, says it is collaborating with an NGO, Malam Garba Foundation, to train 104 family members of serving army personnel in Minna Military Cantonment on various skills.

    The TRADOC Commander, Maj.-Gen. Rasheed Yusuf, disclosed this in Minna while distributing certificates and starter packs to the trainees.

    “The Skills Acquisition Programme in Minna military cantonment is one major welfare programme initiated by the Chief of Army Staff to empower the family members of the Army personnel,’’ Yusuf said.

    He said the programme was aimed at enhancing the living standard of the wives and children of the serving military personnel.

    “There is no doubt that the programme will reduce poverty and increase economic buoyancy in the barracks and the society,’’ the commander said.

    He said the beneficiaries were trained for one month on leather works, barbing, hairdressing, bead and wire work, multipurpose cosmetics, satellite installation, fashion designing and tailoring, among others.

    He said each participant would be provided with a starter pack in his or her chosen vocation, which they should utilise to improve the lots of their families.

    Malam Garba Abdulmajid, chairman of the foundation, said the army funded the training of 60 participants while the NGO was responsible for the training of 44 trainees.

    Abdulmajid said that the starter packs distributed to the trainees were worth N3.5 million.

    Mrs Grace Osho, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association ( NAOWA ), Minna, promised that the beneficiaries would utilise the starter packs to achieve the objective of the programme.

    NAN

  • Officers’ promotion exam: Army urge Enugu residents not to panic

    Officers’ promotion exam: Army urge Enugu residents not to panic

    The Nigerian Army has urged residents of Enugu not to panic as they see sporadic movement of military vehicles and personnel during the Captain and Major Practical Promotion Examination 2017.

    Col. Sagir Musa, Deputy Director Public Relations of 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, said this in a statement issued in Enugu on Monday.

    Musa said the exercise, which would run between Oct. 16 and Oct.20, would involve movement of vehicles conveying troops to selected field locations for the examination.

    According to him, members of the public in Enugu city and Nsude – Udi community along 9th Mile general area are hereby informed not to worry when they notice the exercise.

    “In line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the 82 Division Nigerian Army is set to host Captain – Major Practical Promotion Examination 2017, from Oct. 16 – Oct. 20.

    “The examination is intended to test the intellectual and professional ability of the candidates as well as to improve on their capacity and knowledge base in the discharge of their duties.

    “Eligible candidates will be tested on map reading, tactics and low intensity conflicts, communications, staff duties and French language.

    “The Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command ( TRADOC ) Nigerian Army, will conduct the examination in 82 Division Area of Responsibility.

    “A team of observers from the Headquarters, directing staff and members of the examination panel drawn from formations and units of the Nigerian Army will be involved in the conduct of the exercise,’’ he said.

    Musa said that the Commander TRADOC, Maj.-Gen. Rasheed Yusuf, would address the 130 candidates and the directing staff at the division’s auditorium before the commencement of the exercise.

    He said that the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar, would also make some remarks at the occasion.

    NAN

  • Army holds promotion exams for 326 Majors, Captains 

    Army holds promotion exams for 326 Majors, Captains 

    The Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) on Monday said a total of 326 Majors and Captains from across Army formations would sit for promotion examination, beginning from Aug. 7, in Kaduna.

    The TRADOC Commander, Maj.-Gen Rasheed Yusuf said in Kaduna that 35 Majors and 291 captains were selected for the Senior Staff Course Qualifying examination which would run till Aug. 11.

    Yusuf who is also the President, Army Examination Panel, explained that the test was compulsory for the personnel to qualify for senior staff course.

    “The exams will determine their progress in the army and is also an assessment of their level of proficiency in the army,” Yusuf said.

    The Commander explained that a candidate must score at least 50 percent in each paper, adding that there would be no excuse for failure as the personnel were assumed to have garnered enough experience in their fields of assignment.

    “It is the examination that will propel them to higher heights and understand the profession much better so as to add value to the security architecture of the country,’’ he said.

    He cautioned the candidates against any sharp practice during the test, stressing that the “Nigerian Army will not tolerate any indiscipline as it has zero tolerance for exams malpractice.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that successful candidates would be decorated with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Major respectively.

  • Boko Haram terrorists withdrawing to safe havens, Army Chief alerts commanders

    Boko Haram terrorists withdrawing to safe havens, Army Chief alerts commanders

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, on Monday, alerted 70 commanding officers of the Army to remain vigilant as Boko Haram insurgents withdraw to safe havens in other parts of country.

    “The insurgents are now in disarray, attacking soft and defenceless targets, and withdrawing to safer havens in other parts of the country,” he said at the opening of a five-day workshop for the officers in Kaduna.

    The Army Chief, who was represented by the Commander, Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command, Maj Gen, Rasheed Yusuf, assured that the military would decimate remaining terrorists.

    “I therefore charge you to be vigilant and security conscious within your areas of responsibility, so that the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents are fished out.

    “I want to assure you that the Nigeria Army, under my command, will continue to remain focused and reinvigorated to fulfill its mission.

    “To this end, the Nigeria Army will do all that are humanly feasible to provide all logistics and operational requirements necessary to contain the security challenges faced by the country in the course of carrying out our constitutional role.”

    Buratai noted that the Boko Haram insurgency, militancy, pipeline vandalism, cattle rustling, kidnapping, ethno-religious crisis, armed robbery and other crimes have remained portent security challenges in the country.

    He however appreciated the support of the Federal Government to the military, which had helped to reposition the service and ensure successes in its operations.

    “By now, you must be aware of the laudable initiative and commitment of Mr President, C-in-C in the provision of hardware and other logistics requirements which have aided the successes recorded in the counter insurgency operations in the country

    “Mr President is also desirous of enhancing our training and welfare packages.

    “I therefore urge you to rededicate yourselves and motivate your troops towards being professionally responsive in the discharge of our constitutional roles.

    “We must continue to strive for excellence so as to improve our operational effectiveness and productivity which will invariably stimulate citizens support and appreciation.

    “Let me at this junction salute our colleagues involved in various operation within and outside Nigeria, some of whom have paid the supreme sacrifice.

    “We shall continue to stand with and support the families of our fallen colleagues appropriately all the time.” the army chief said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop is “Building on the Successes of the Military Operations by Units Commanders.”

    The maiden Commanding Officers Workshop was held in Maiduguri in March.

  • Abuja Airport closure: First Nation seeks compensation

    Abuja Airport closure: First Nation seeks compensation

    First Nation Airways has appealed to the Federal Government to address the issue of compensation for airlines over losses incurred as a result of closing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The airline made the plea in a statement signed by its Manager, Corporate Services, Mr. Rasheed Yusuf on Wednesday in Lagos.

    The Federal Government on March 8 closed the Abuja airport for a period of six weeks to carry out a major rehabilitation of its runway.

    Yusuf said the airline was in total support of the on-going repair of runway and commended government’s efforts at addressing infrastructure decay, especially in the aviation sector.

    He said that the closure of the airport had affected the operations of the airline, adding that this informed the airline’s decision to temporary reschedule its operations.

    According to him, this was to accomplish crew training and other important capacity building exercise that would further raised quality raise of service and enhance safety.

    “It is our prayer that the government will urgently address the issue of financial compensation to airlines for losses incurred as a result of the closure with the same fort rightness being displayed with respect to the runway repair.

    “We also acknowledge that within the last 30 days’ Foreign Exchange constraints continue to ease.

    “However, the current 60 days forward bid is more suited for bill for collections and foreign airline remittances but challenges remain for airlines headquartered in Nigeria, who have to also wait 60 to 90 days for value.

    “We hope that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will start offering a mixture of spot foreign exchange availability to ease planning as forward transactions is unduly prolonging airlines maintenance, training, and thus compounding planning.”

    He further expressed optimism that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would continue to engage the government on how to improve the operating environment of the industry.

    “First Nation remains bullish about her future outlook and will return to Kaduna and Port Harcourt as from March 29 when we anticipate that traffic would have stabilised in preparation for Easter season,” Yusuf added.

    NAN reports that the airline had temporary suspended its operations as a result of low passenger demand which it claimed was due to the diversion of Abuja flights to Kaduna International Airport.

    The General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Sam Adurogboye, confirmed the development in a text message to aviation correspondents.

    Adurogboye, however said the airline grounded its operations because it did not have “flight crew who are current” at the moment.

    The NCAA spokesperson had also in a recent interview with newsmen confirmed that First Nation was operating with only a single A319 aircraft instead of the prerequisite two aircraft.

    Adurogboye said the airline was granted waiver for a few months to use one aircraft due to the unserviceable nature of its second aircraft, adding that the NCAA was closely monitoring its operations.

    The airline in Aug. 2016 voluntarily suspended operations for two months, due to lack of operating aircraft.